Related Federal Cases
- Justin Stone Arrow, Assault of a Minor, South Dakota 2016 · South Dakota
- Jason Martinez, Domestic Assault, South Dakota 2017 · South Dakota
- Kevin Yellow Earring, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, South Dakota… · South Dakota
- Kevin Yellow Earring, Assault, South Dakota 2014 · South Dakota
- Logan James Fast Horse, Assault by Strangulation, South Dakota 2024 · South Dakota
Assault Case Falls Apart in Federal Court
In a stunning turn of events, Joel Miller, 51, was acquitted of Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding on August 27, 2025, after a federal jury trial in Pierre, South Dakota.
Miller was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025 for allegedly assaulting a man in May 2025 in Todd County, within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation.
The case against Miller was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, citing federal law that mandates certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
According to sources, the investigation was a joint effort between the Todd County Sheriff’s Office, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the FBI.
The acquittal of Miller has raised questions about the effectiveness of the federal prosecution system in handling violent crimes in Indian Country.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has declined to comment on the acquittal, citing the ongoing investigation and potential future prosecution.
As the Grimy Times continues to investigate this story, it remains to be seen what the long-term implications of this acquittal will be for the community and the justice system as a whole.
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Violent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent Crime